Can You Be Addicted To Suboxone?

Posted by Melony Khor on July 9th, 2021

When an individual stops using heroin or opiates, they will often need treatment for Opiate addiction or alcoholism in order to achieve sobriety. Unfortunately, when an individual is seeking treatment for their addictions, they may find themselves having to deal with withdrawal from their medication. Because Suboxone is a highly selective opiate agonist, it has higher rates of success in patients who are alcoholics or drug abusers. However, the same drug abuse and addiction that create Suboxone abuse also create the potential for serious withdrawal and issues related to detoxification. With proper medical supervision and a solid physical and mental health foundation, individuals on the road to recovery from any form of addiction can become sober and thrive.

As soon as the individual first begins taking suboxone for pain management, their physical cravings for the drug will begin to manifest. While Suboxone is an effective drug for pain management, it can also be a very powerful drug to help individuals recover from opiate addiction. If you're experiencing withdrawal symptoms, it's important to speak with your doctor to identify if your current dosage is appropriate and if you may be having a withdrawal symptom unrelated to taking suboxone. Once you have determined that your dosage is too high and that you are experiencing other symptoms unrelated to your medication, your doctor will be able to better prescribe an alternative treatment for your condition.

While it's common for individuals who are experiencing Suboxone withdrawal to exhibit signs of depression, anxiety and mood swings, these symptoms are not always apparent in everyone who takes the medication. Because of the highly selective nature of the drug, Suboxone users are likely to exhibit these symptoms for a very long time before exhibiting any noticeable differences in their mental health. Because of this long time between the administration of suboxone and the onset of these symptoms, it's unlikely that anyone who is receiving this treatment will be able to detect the signs of depression and other mental health problems associated with this treatment. The long time between the time of Suboxone administration and the onset of withdrawal can make it difficult to diagnose depression or other mental health issues that could be related to taking this medication.

Although it's unlikely that someone who has taken suboxone for pain management will exhibit any mental health issues that are associated with the drug, there is one instance in which the timeline associated with withdrawal symptoms may be significantly extended. When an individual who is currently undergoing a detox process begins to dramatically alter their lifestyle, they may be more prone to exhibit symptoms of depression and other mental health related issues. When someone undergoes a detoxification process, it's not uncommon for them to significantly reduce their daily activities such as exercising and sleeping, as well as their social interaction.

This decrease in social interaction can significantly increase the risk for depression, which often accompany an extended period of opioid abstinence. It's important to note that even if the withdrawal symptoms are decreased when the individual is undergoing detox, they are likely to return after detox. This is due to the physical effects of Suboxone. Suboxone is a synthetic opioid, so it requires an equally intense withdrawal process in order to prevent its abuse and addiction. This process can last anywhere from four to thirty days, depending on the severity of Suboxone addiction. A heavy user of suboxone may have to undergo this lengthy detox process multiple times before reaching a level of recovery where withdrawal symptoms are less pronounced.

Many people in recovery choose to withdraw from this type of drug under the premise that they will never be able to achieve sobriety while on this medication. Although this is common among long-term Suboxone users, this rationale overlooks several critical elements which are essential to a successful recovery. For example, many people recovering from a heroin addiction experience serious cravings for the drug, which often lead them back to their drug of choice. Even if these cravings are diminished with counseling and other support methods, they still exist. There are many individuals who attempt to quit cold turkey and report successes but only find success after months of heavy drinking and/or taking drugs to self-medicate for the cravings. Because Suboxone is a highly habit-forming drug, it's imperative that a person trying to stop must commit to abstinence and undergo an extensive detoxification period in order to be successful.